Ways to Meet Your Neighbors

Whether you’ve just moved into a new apartment, or are feeling a sudden rush of sociability, there are plenty of ways to get to know your neighbors. Some ways take planning and work, and others are as simple as saying “hi” in the elevator. Whatever your level of motivation, there’s a way that can work for you. Here are a few simple ideas to meet your neighbors, and possibly make some friends in the process.

Put on your party shoes

Throwing a party is one of the best ways to get to meet a lot of people at once. A party doesn’t have to be overly elaborate, some wine and a few snacks will do the trick. It’s really just an excuse to get a bunch of people who might otherwise not associate with each other into the same room and get them talking. Alcohol does wonders for loosening people up, but be mindful of guests who imbibe too much. Look HERE for some good party planning tips.

You don’t even need much of an occasion to throw a party. A common occasion might be a housewarming party. Parties hosted by your apartment complex also provides a way for your neighbors to meet friends and form a community in your building.

Fancy meeting you here…

Some buildings have a front door that everyone must enter and exit through. As such, there’s a high probability that you will run into most of your neighbors there at one point or another. Stop and say hi. There are usually a few seconds when someone is opening up the door that provide a nice opportunity for small talk. If you’re not particularly comfortable striking up conversations, start small- a funny quip about the building, or a compliment about something they’re wearing. Don’t worry if it’s not a great conversation. Remember, you’re just looking to break the ice. The mail room is also a great place to strike up some small talk with someone that looks interesting.

An elevator also provides a similar vehicle conversation because you have a few seconds where neither party is going anywhere. Since the amount of time that an average person spends in the elevator is fairly small, you’ll likely only get in a few sentences. That’s OK, it gives you a good reason to talk to them when you see them again, and if the conversation doesn’t go so well, there’s a built in excuse to end it.

Do you swim here too?

There are many other places around the building that are also conducive to striking up conversation. For those fortunate enough to have a pool on those hot summer days, lounging in a chair will provide you with an excellent opportunity to meet some like minded people. Be careful about being overly friendly in the locker room. Many otherwise talkative people may feel uncomfortable having a conversation while they are half dressed. The gym is another great place to practice your small talk. Ask for pointers regarding how to use the equipment, or complain about the erratic behavior of the treadmills. Again, be mindful of when you strike up conversation- those deeply involved in their workouts may not want to be disturbed.

Finding Common Interest

Maybe there’s a running trail or tennis courts around? Take the initiative to organize clubs for activities that would fit with the apartment community. Get the apartment management involved to approve putting up flyers for people to go running together after work. You’ll have ready-made running buddies for safety and motivation. If there are tennis or basketball courts near by, start a tennis team or basketball team where there’s a scheduled time to go out and play.

Play dates are also a great way to meet your neighbors. If your apartment allows dogs, get residents with dogs to meet up to take the dogs to play together in a nearby park. And, if there are people with kids in the complex, getting same-age kids together to play is good for both the kids and the parents. A trusted friendship between the parents can become a good back-up system in case the parents need an extra hand in the future.

In large cities, many people never bother to get to know their neighbors. Just because this is standard practice doesn’t mean you have to follow along. After all, when you’ve run out of sugar or need some help opening a stuck window, isn’t it better to have neighbors you can rely on? Though it may feel uncomfortable at first, making an effort to get to know your neighbors can really pay off in the long run.

Too funny. My last neighbor told me that he was having a small family get-together and that it would not last that long.
At 3:30 in the morning, I banged on his door. He couldn’t hear me because 30 people were crammed into his hallway. One of them came outside (to smoke) and saw me standing there in my p.j.’s.
I complained to the office the next morning (in writing) and told my wonderful neighbor that I would call the police the next time.
There was never a next time. He skipped out. Yay!

this is the most inept idea i’ve heard yet. has anyone lived in an apartment here? i can see this now, this very idea used in an apartment full of single, tired, overworked individuals who do not wish to be bothered!

where i live, if i pulled this i’d have the cops called on me, the manager would be alerted and many folks would put double dead bolts on their doors and cameras on their balconies!

you forgot to have them send out fliers, you know post them on everyone’s door! then have another knock on everyone’s door and give them door prizes that are religious specific like say “come to our anti halloween party, all christians are invited!” lmfao…

then have some more neighbors drive by once at night, say about 9pm.. the sensitive hour and have them use a loud speaker system reminding everyone that this weekend is the bewitching hour party thingy!

then mail everyone the invitations! telling them to bring their friends!

and especially alert those nearby, they’ll love the tension of knowing that there’s going to be a hot shingding shortly that’ll keep them up for days!

do this on a weekly basis! then become a spokesperson for the community in that building! lmfao! every week send out fliers… costume parties, come to their functions.. join their clubs and there’s going to be karoke and nice loud music and a band! yes! lots of partying, the more people the merrier… and the more that come can get discounts to whatever is conjured up!

it’ll be a blast!

and every 10th neighbor that calls the police will get egged and tp’d! yay!

dogs barking? you get a free pass!

😀 kids all over the place unattended because the parents are off to the party, yay! theft, breaking in and destruction of property, horray!

cars that are keyed get a free report to the city crime central, what a prize!

i can’t wait! this is a fab idea!

then have neighbors who have big noses.. and are always asking other neighbors what their business is about! neighbors with no life following about other neighbors lives and looking into mailboxes, doors, windows and such and such and…

well, i brought my point home more than i should have…

(i’d love it if a new neighbor or i’m the newb and if anyone came up to me asking me about details.. that would bring me such comfort.. NOT!)

well in our high rise apartment building we have Sunday brunch on the roof and tuesday night supper club. Neighbors come together with a dish that goes with the theme that the ‘current host’ picked and invite 1 neighbor to the event that have not joined us prior…

some times it is a small group of 20 some time it’s a large group of 78 but all are well fed, social and met there neighbors and maybe a new friend…